140. Escaped from the grave

06-10-1944

Chaamseweg , Alphen, The Netherlands

140. Escaped from the grave

During the battle that took place here in October 1944, German soldiers haul three Dutch men from of a bunker on suspicion of them supporting the underground. One of them, Felix Roelen, tells his story.

On the 6th of October 1944, a fierce battle raged in this area. The 1st Polish Armoured Division attempted to force the German troops to retreat, but encountered fierce resistance. Among other measures, the German army had deployed the very well organised 6th Paratroopers Regiment. German paratroopers were extremely apprehensive of espionage. At the slightest suspicion, they resorted to drastic measures.

And so farmer Felix Roelen, his neighbour Toon Oomen and resistance fighter Willy van den Corput were pulled out of a shelter by German soldiers and taken away after a short interrogation. In the woods around Alpen, they were summarily shot. Felix Roelen was hit in the neck, but eventually, it proved not to be a fatal wound and he survived.